modes

[Benoit]

Can someone give me a simple description of modes and what they're suppose to be.

I don't have any musical knowledge other than what I discovered by myself jamming. I can't read music and don't intend to learn. I'm just a guy who plays guitar and learned everything mostly by ear.

That said, I never got the point of modes. Maybe I use them without knowing but I would really like to learn more on the subject.

Also WHAT IS ROOT!

[lalimacefolle]

root is the starting point of a scale...

The mode is how the notes relates to the root and the other notes: for example major modes will have a third that will be 2 tones away from the root, while minor ones will be a tone and a half away... It goes on and on for every note.

most known modes Ionian (CDEFGAB in the key of C, or major scale) Aeolian (CDEbFGAB in C, it's the minor scale). If you raise the 4th in major, you get the lydian, etc. check out the tricks section, there's a lot about that.

[Benoit]

Thanks, I guess I use some of them. I'll try to find which one I use. It's never too late to get back the lost time.

By the way Lalimace, we're going to have to call you the Gretzky of Posting. You're close to your 500th post. I figure that's what they want to say when they talk about CONTRIBUTING to the scene.

C'est pas pour rien qu'il ton nommé moderateur ;)

[lalimacefolle]

yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah a french speaking fella!!

[Edited by Christoph on 01-12-2002 at 01:00 PM]

[Christoph]

A mode is any scale played from a note other than the root note.

We'll use C major for simplicity. The scale is C D E F G A B C. C is the root. If you start from D and play through the scale back to D, then you have a mode, a Dorian mode, to be exact.

[Benoit]

OK, I think I getting there.

Question:

If I do C D E F# G A B C What Would that be? C major because it starts and ends with C? Does the F# instead of the F changes something?

[lalimacefolle]

that's the lydian mode in C (the root is C, and the raised fourth makes it lydian) It's the scale used in the simpsons' theme.
And since it has a major third (E, rather than Eb, that would be minor) it's a mojor mode.

[Benoit]

I took your advice and look at some tricks section. This is what I came up with.

I'm an extreme visual person so would that seem right to you.Graphics are my friends :)


C D E F G A B C (Ionian)
D E F G A B C D (Dorian minor)
E F G A B C D E (Phrygian minor)
F G A B C D E F (Lydian)
G A B C D E F G (Mixolydian)
A B C D E F G A (Aolian minor)
B C D E F G A B (Locrian minor)

[lalimacefolle]

that's it, but I do not really like this approach, since you switch key for every mode. I'd rather say, "lower the third=aeolian", etc.... But both approaches are correct, and yours is much easier to understand.

[Benoit]

In the same Key would it look like this,

Key = C

Ionian = C D E F G A B C
Dorian = C D Eb F G A Bb C
Phrygian = C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C
Lydian = C D E F# G A B C
And so on...

[lalimacefolle]

you've got it!

[Benoit]

You know what Lalimace, you and Christoph just cured my of a nasty virus had for many years : Lack of modes knowledge.

At least now I'll know what mode I play in.

Thanks to both of you, this thread will be usefull to others I hope.

[Christoph]

Yeah, it's pretty simple once you get the knack of it.

Go forth and jam! :cool:

[lalimacefolle]

The hardest part is to get it on the fretboard though. The theory behind it is pretty easy.

[mamamalabass]

Originally posted by lalimacefolle
that's it, but I do not really like this approach, since you switch key for every mode. I'd rather say, "lower the third=aeolian", etc.... But both approaches are correct, and yours is much easier to understand. for me it's the other way .Changing keys gets me

[lalimacefolle]

I guess that's because we're all wired different!! (expecially me!)

[Benoit]

and sometimes those wires give us SPARKS of creativity ;)

(Ok that was lame...)

[OmegaMonster]

Throughout my studies in music I've found the question that you ask to be one of the more difficult to answer. Instead of a person speaking and trying to explain verbally what the concept of musical modality is...it is often easier to hear it musically. I'll give you an example of how modes are applied in real life.

Most southern rock is played in a pentatonic manner. The mode translates closest to Aolean...the name of the mode is irrelevant. What is important is the sound and feel of this particular mode. It feels bluesy and loose. Skynard, 38 Special, etc...

When you hear Joe Satriani or Steve Vai, more often than not, your hearing a Lydian modality. Lydian is semi-happy, semi-sad, melancholy and smooth.

Most Egyptian and Chinese music stem from the Phrygian mode (although not directly). This particular mode is common in Egyptian music. It give an odd and dark kind of vibe. It has a high level of tension and release when phrased properly.

Again, this is just my insight. The truth is out there, young axeslinger...follow your ears!